Door assembly and method of replacing a door of an electronics cabinet

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are rack enclosures for electronic equipment including at least one door configured to define a space between an edge of the door and a wall or frame of the cabinet, kits for retrofitting rack enclosures to include such a door, and methods of installing such.

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

1. Field of Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed generally to doorassemblies for electronic component storage cabinets.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Equipment enclosures for electronic equipment, such as data processing,networking, and telecommunications equipment, have been in use foryears. A number of different standards have been developed to enableequipment manufacturers to design rack mountable equipment that can bemounted in standard racks manufactured by different manufacturers. Onesuch standard is the Electronic Industries Alliance's EIA-310-D standardwhich defines parameters for what has become an industry standardnineteen inch equipment rack.

Nineteen inch equipment racks are used extensively in data centers andother facilities. With the proliferation of the Internet, it is notuncommon for a data center to contain hundreds of these equipment racks.In certain situations, it may be desirable to replace one of the frontand/or rear doors of an equipment rack with a “short door” to enablecables and wires to enter and egress from the equipment rack through thespace provided under and/or above the short door. One challenge toreplacing a standard length door with a short door is being able toadequately secure the doors since the short door is not positivelysecured to a frame of the equipment rack at the bottom and/or top of theshort door.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a rack enclosure. The rack enclosure comprises a frameconfigured to define an interior suitable for supporting electronicequipment, the frame having at least one opening to allow access intothe interior, a first door and a second door, the first and second doorsbeing individually movable between an open position to allow access tothe interior through the at least one opening and a closed position toblock access to the interior, the second door having a heightsubstantially coextensive with a height of the frame and the first doorhaving a height less than the height of the frame, wherein a space isdefined between at least a portion of the first door and the frame whenthe first door is closed, a latch assembly secured to the second door,the latch assembly including a handle coupled to the second door, adetent member coupled to the handle, the detent member being movablefrom a first position to a second position upon actuation of the handle,and a bracket secured to an inside surface of the first door proximateto the portion of the first door defining the space between the firstdoor and the frame when the first door is closed, the bracket having anopening formed therein configured to receive the detent member when thedetent member is moved by the handle to its second position when thefirst and second doors are in their closed positions.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure there isprovided a rack enclosure. The rack enclosure comprises a frameconfigured to define an interior suitable for supporting electronicequipment, the frame having at least one opening to allow access intothe interior, a first door and a second door, the first door beinghingedly secured to the frame on one side of the at least one openingand the second door being hingedly secured to the frame on an other sideof the at least one opening, the first and second doors beingindividually movable between an open position to allow access to theinterior and a closed position to block access to the interior, thesecond door having a height substantially coextensive with a height ofthe frame and the first door having a height less than the height of theframe, wherein a space is defined between at least a portion of thefirst door and the frame when the first door is closed, a latch assemblysecured to the second door, the latch assembly including a handlecoupled to the second door, a detent member coupled to the handle, thedetent member being movable from a retracted position to an extendedposition proximate an inside surface of the first door when the doorsare in their closed positions and the handle is actuated, and a bracketsecured to an inside surface of the second door proximate to the portionof the first door defining the space between the first door and theframe when the first door is closed.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure there isprovided a retrofit kit for a rack enclosure of the type comprising aframe configured to define an interior suitable for supportingelectronic equipment, the frame having at least one opening to allowaccess into the interior, a first door, a second door, the first doorbeing hingedly secured to the frame on one side of the at least oneopening and the second door being hingedly secured to the frame on another side of the at least one opening, the first and second doors beingindividually movable between an open position to allow access to theinterior and a closed position to block access to the interior, thefirst door having a height less than a height of the second door, and alatch assembly secured to the second door, the latch assembly includinga handle rotatably coupled to the second door between an open positionand a locked position, a first shaft portion coupled to the handle, anda second shaft portion coupled to the handle, the first and second shaftportions being configured to engage the frame when the first and seconddoors are in their closed positions and the handle is rotated to itslocked position, the first door including a flange configured to overlapan edge of the second door when the first and second doors are in theirclosed positions. The retrofit kit comprises a detent member constructedand arranged to couple to the handle, the detent member constructed andarranged to be movable from a retracted position to an extended positionwhen rotating the handle from its open position to its locked position,and a bracket constructed and arranged to be secured to the first door,the bracket having an opening formed therein arranged to receive thedetent member when the detent member is moved by the handle to itsextended position when the first and second doors are in their closedpositions.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure there isprovided a retrofit kit for doors of an electronics cabinet. Theretrofit kit comprises a latch assembly including one or more lock rods,a center lock rod mounting bracket, a fastener constructed and arrangedto couple at least one of the one or more lock rods to the center lockrod mounting bracket, a detent member constructed and arranged torotatably attach to one of the one or more lock rods, one or morebrackets constructed and arranged to secure the latch assembly to atleast one of the one or more doors, and one or more bushings constructedand arranged to couple to the one or more brackets and to guide the oneor more lock rods, a handle constructed and arranged to couple to thelatch assembly, and instructions for installing the retrofit kit.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure thereis provided a method of replacing a door of an electronics cabinet. Themethod comprises providing a first door having a height less than aheight of a frame of the electronics cabinet, attaching the first doorto the frame of the cabinet, and installing a latch assembly on a seconddoor, the latch assembly including one or more lock rods and a detentmember configured to selectively engage the first door.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, thereis provided a rack enclosure. The rack enclosure comprises a frameconfigured to define an interior suitable for supporting electronicequipment, the frame having at least one opening to allow access intothe interior, a first door and a second door, the first and second doorsbeing individually movable between an open position to allow access tothe interior through the at least one opening and a closed position toblock access to the interior, the second door having a heightsubstantially coextensive with a height of the frame and the first doorhaving a height less than the height of the frame, wherein a space isdefined between at least a portion of the first door and the frame whenthe first door is closed, a latch assembly secured to the second door,the latch assembly including a handle coupled to the second door, adetent member coupled to the handle, the detent member being movablefrom a first position to a second position upon actuation of the handle,a slot formed in the first door proximate to the portion of the firstdoor defining the space between the first door and the frame when thefirst door is closed, the slot configured to receive the detent memberwhen the detent member is moved by the handle to its second positionwhen the first and second doors are in their closed positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In thedrawings, each identical or nearly identical component that isillustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronics cabinet according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the electronics cabinet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an upper door and lock rodassembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper door and lock rod assemblyshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a center lock rod retainingbracket and door assembly according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the center lock rod retaining bracketand door assembly shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a lower door and lock rodassembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lower door and lock rod assemblyshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective rear view of a lock rod assembly according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective rear view of the center lock rodretaining bracket assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a detent member assemblyshown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the center lock rod retaining bracket assemblyshown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the detent member assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the center lock rod retaining bracketassembly in an open position;

FIG. 18 is a front view of the center lock rod retaining bracketassembly in a locked position;

FIG. 19 is a front view of the lock rod, detent member, and doorassembly in an unlocked position;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the lock rod, detent member, and doorassembly in a locked position;

FIG. 21 is a side view of a lock rod, detent member, and door assemblyin a locked position according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the lock rod, detent member, and door assemblyshown in FIG. 21 in an open position;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 24 is a front view of another embodiment of the lock rod, detentmember, and door assembly in a locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carriedout in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,”“containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an electronics cabinet having a pair of rear doors. It shouldbe understood that any reference to “equipment rack,” “rack enclosure,”and/or “electronics cabinet,” or any variation thereof, e.g. “equipmentcabinet” or “cabinet,” are used interchangeably herein and are meant todescribe a structure suitable for supporting and organizing electronicequipment. Also, although the present disclosure describes doors of acabinet as being rear doors, is should be understood that thisdisclosure would apply equally well to doors on the front, side, top, orany other part of a cabinet.

The rear doors are mounted by hinges to the sides of the rear of theelectronics cabinet. The rear doors may be closed by swinging toward therear of the electronics cabinet causing at least a portion of theperipheries of the doors to come into contact with a rear frame of theelectronics cabinet. One of the doors (a “first” door) has a flangeextending from at least a portion of an internal surface at an edgeopposite that of the edge at which it is attached to the electronicscabinet. The other door (a “second” door) is configured to close andtrap the flange of the first door against an internal surface of theedge of the second. In this manner, closing the first door and thenclosing the second door results in the first door being trapped andclosed against the frame of the electronics cabinet by the second door.Locking of the second door against the frame of the electronics cabinetthus prevents either door from opening outward from the fame of theelectronics cabinet. A lock mechanism is provided on the second doorwhich includes a handle protruding from an external surface of thesecond door and a pair of lock rods mechanically coupled to the handleand mounted to the inside surface of the second door. Turning of thehandle results in one of the lock rods extending upward and into a holeand/or recess in the frame of the electronics cabinet and/or into abracket attached to the inside of the electronics cabinet, while theother lock rod extends downward and into a recess in the frame of theelectronics cabinet and/or into a bracket attached to the inside of theelectronics cabinet, thus preventing movement of the second door withrespect to the door frame.

In situations in which the first door is replaced with a short door, thefirst door has a height less than that of the second door. At least abottom edge or a top edge of the first door thus does not abut the frameof the electronics cabinet when closed. This leaves an open spacebetween the bottom edge, for example, of the first door and the frame ofthe cabinet. This open space may be used to pass cables and/orelectrical wires into and out of the cabinet to connect electroniccomponent(s) within the cabinet to, for example, source(s) of powerand/or electronic component(s) and/or communication network(s) externalto the cabinet. The first door will be prevented from swinging open froma closed position when both the first and second doors are closed andlocked due to the second door trapping a flange of the first door asdescribed above. However, an edge of the first door that does not abutthe frame of the cabinet may be pushed inward or outward and bent orotherwise damaged, by accident or otherwise, unless somehow secured. Inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure a detent memberis coupled to an inside surface of the second door. This detent memberis extendable such that it may extend from a first position wherein itresides behind an inside surface of the second door to a second positionwherein the detent member is inserted into a recess provided in abracket coupled to the inside surface of the first door proximate anedge of the first door which does not abut the cabinet frame. The detentmember secures the bracket, and by extension the first door, in place,thus preventing the first door from moving inward and/or outward underan applied force. In other embodiments, the detent member extendsagainst an inner surface and/or a plate mounted on the inner surface ofthe first door, or into a slot formed in the first door, but does notengage any bracket on the first door. In some embodiments, a slot forretaining the detent member may be formed in the body of the fist door,for example is a side edge of the first door. In other embodiments theslot may be formed in a member or a protrusion, such as a metal tab,mechanically coupled to a surface, for example, an inside surface, ofthe first door. The member may alternatively be formed of any othersuitable material, for example, plastic or ceramic.

Various aspects and alternative embodiments of the present disclosurewill be now described with reference to the attached figures.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a rear view of an electronics cabinetgenerally indicated at 102. The electronics cabinet is constructed andarranged for storing electronic components such as data processing,networking, and telecommunications equipment. The electronics cabinet102 has a frame 104 to which are attached two swinging doors 106 and108. The doors 106, 108 are attached on outer side edges to frame 104 byhinges (not shown), although other means of attachment may be used inalternate embodiments. For example the doors 106, 108 may in someembodiments be sliding doors, segmented sliding doors such as may befound on a rolltop desk or a tambour desk, or pocket doors. The doors106, 108 may in some embodiments include holes such as ventilationholes. Also, although illustrated as having planar rectangular surfacesin FIG. 1, doors 106, 108 may in alternate embodiments have curvedsurfaces and/or shapes other than rectangular, such as trapezoidal oroval. The door 106 has a height substantially coextensive with a heightof the frame 104, such that when closed against the frame, no verticalspace exists between either the upper edge 116 of the door 106 and theupper portion 114 of the frame 104 or between the lower edge 126 of thedoor 106 and the lower portion 124 of the frame 104. The arrangement issuch that when in a shut position, an upper edge 116 of door 106 willrest against an upper portion 114 of the frame 104 and a bottom edge 126of door 106 will rest against a bottom portion 124 of the frame 104. Incontrast, door 108 has a height less than the height of the frame 104.An upper edge 118 of the door 108 rests against the upper portion 114 ofthe frame 104 when the door 108 is in a closed position; however, abottom edge 128 of the door 108 does not rest against the bottom portion124 of the frame 104. Thus, a vertical space is provided between thebottom edge 128 of the door 108 and the bottom portion 124 of the frame104. As described above, this space may be suitable for allowing cablesand wiring to enter and exit the interior of the cabinet 102.

In some alternate embodiments, the door 108 is mounted on the frame 104such that a vertical space exists between the upper edge 118 of the door108 and the upper portion 114 of the frame 104. In other alternateembodiments, the door 108 is mounted on the frame 104 in a manner suchthat a vertical space exists both between the bottom edge 128 of thedoor 108 and the bottom portion 124 of the frame 104 and between theupper edge 118 of the door 108 and the upper portion 114 of the frame104. In alternate embodiments, the doors 106 and 108 are mounted onopposite sides of the frame 104 from what is illustrated in FIG. 1 insuch a manner that the door 106 is the short door and the door 108 is ofstandard size. In further embodiments, the doors 106 and 108 are mountedto the upper and bottom portions 114 and 124 of the frame 104 such thatone door opens by swinging upward and the other opens by swingingdownward. In such embodiments, a horizontal space would be left betweenat least one door and at least one side of the frame 104. Furtherembodiments include only a single door mounted to the frame 104 with atleast a portion of the door having a height less than the height of theframe 104, and other embodiments include two doors, both with at least aportion having a height less than the height of the frame 104. Infurther embodiments, a single door is mounted to the frame 104 and opensby swinging downward, or in other embodiments, upward. At least aportion of this door would not abut the frame, thus leaving a verticalspace between a portion of the door and the frame. In even furtherembodiments, the doors 106 and 108 are both of equal heights, but theframe 104 has one or more portions which differ in height so as to leaveat least one vertical space between an upper and/or a lower edge of oneor both of the doors. In a complimentary further embodiment, the cabinetincludes a single door with a constant height across its width but witha frame to which the door is mounted which varies in height so as toleave at least one vertical space between the frame and an upper and/orlower edge of the door.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a locking rod assembly, which is generallyindicated at 110. This assembly is mounted on the internal surface ofthe door 106. The locking rod assembly 110 is illustrated as includingan upper lock rod and a lower lock rod; however, in some embodiments,either one of these lock rods may be eliminated. In other embodiments,additional or different lock rods may be employed, such as lock rodsthat extend horizontally or at an angle, rather than vertically. Thelocking rod assembly 110 is shown and described in greater detail below.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cabinet 102 of FIG. 1 withthe doors 106 and 108 in a closed position. As can be seen, a verticalspace exists between the bottom edge 128 of the door 108 and the bottomportion 124 of the frame 104. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 is a handle 200which may be mechanically coupled to the locking rod assembly 110. Thehandle 200 may be turned to either lock or unlock the cabinet doors 106,108. In some embodiments, the handle 200 may be locked and unlocked bythe use of a mechanical key or by some other mechanism, such as by anelectrically operated solenoid. In some embodiments, locking of thehandle may be accomplished remotely, such as by a communications networkelectrically coupled to an activator, such as an electrical solenoid.The shape of the handle 200 is not intended to be limited to the shapeillustrated in FIG. 2. Other shapes and designs for the handle 200 maybe present in alternate embodiments. For example, the handle 200 may insome embodiments be in the form of a wheel, a disk, or a lever.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is an embodiment of an upper portion of thelock rod assembly 110 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates this portion of thelock rod assembly 110 in an exploded view and FIG. 4 illustrates thisportion of the lock rod assembly 110 attached to an inner surface 136 ofthe door 106. In some aspects, the surface 136 corresponds to a framemember of the door 106 of FIG. 1. The lock rod assembly 110 includes anupper lock rod 302. In some embodiments, the lock rod 302 has asubstantially circular cross section as shown in FIG. 2; however, inalternate embodiments, the lock rod 302 may have a rectangular crosssection, and in further embodiments the lock rod 302 may have othercross sections, such as an oval cross section. In some embodiments, thelock rod 302 may be in the form of a flat bar, rather than a rod. Insome embodiments, the shape and area of the cross section of the upperlock rod 302 varies along its length. The upper lock rod 302 is in someembodiments tapered on its upper end as illustrated, but in otherembodiments terminates in a flat or rounded surface. Similar alternateembodiments are also possible for lower lock rods, which are discussedbelow. The upper portion of the upper lock rod 302 is coupled to thedoor 106 by a bracket 308, which is secured to the door 106 by fasteners310. The fasteners 310 are in some embodiments screws, but in otherembodiments may be rivets, bolts, or other appropriate fasteners. Insome embodiments, the bracket 308 may be welded to the door or attachedby an adhesive, such as epoxy. The upper portion of the upper lock rod302 passes through a bushing 312 disposed within a hole in the bracket308. The bushing and bracket assembly guides the upper lock rod 302 andallows the upper lock rod 302 to move vertically with respect to thebracket 308. When significantly upwardly extended, the upper lock rod302 enters a recess and/or hole in a frame, such as the frame 104 ofFIG. 1, to which the door 106 is mounted, thus retaining the door 106against the frame when the door 106 is closed. In some embodiments, thisrecess and/or hole may be disposed in a bracket attached to the frame. Alower lock rod 304 operates in a similar manner as the upper lock rod302 as is explained in further detail below. The upper lock rod 302 isalso positionable into a lower position where it does not extend beyondthe upper extremity of the door 106 to facilitate the opening andclosing of the door 106 against the frame 104 of the cabinet 102.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a lower portion of the upper lock rod302 of the lock rod assembly 110. Also illustrated is an upper portionof the lower lock rod 304. Lock rods 302 and 304 are coupled to a centerlock rod mounting bracket 508 by fasteners 512 which allow the lock rodsto rotate in a plane of the surfaces of the center lock rod mountingbracket 508 to which they are attached about axes defined by fasteners512. The lock rod mounting bracket 508 is connected to the door 106 bymeans of a fastener 510, which in various embodiments may be a screw, abolt, a rivet, or any other appropriate fastener. The fastener 510passes through an opening in the door 106 and is coupled to the handle200 mounted on an outside surface of the door 106 shown in FIG. 2. Inother aspects, a rod, screw or other form of fastener may extend fromthe handle 200 through the door 106 and lock rod mounting bracket 508 tobe secured against the lock rod mounting bracket 508 by a pin, a washerand/or nut, or other appropriate form of fastener or fasteningmechanism. Turning of the handle 200 results in a rotation of the centerlock rod mounting bracket 508 and movement of the lock rods 302 and 304in vertical, or in some embodiments horizontal or other directions.

In other embodiments, the lock rods 302, 304 may be coupled to thehandle 200 by means of a gear assembly. In such embodiments, uponturning of the handle, a gear coupled to the handle 200 would turn oneor more gears to which one or more of the lock rods 302, 304 arecoupled. This would result in the one or more lock rods 302, 304 movingin response to the turning of the handle 200.

Illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a lower portion of the lower lock rod304 of the lock rod assembly 110. The lower lock rod 304 is secured toan inside surface of the door 106 by a bracket 708, which in someembodiments is similar in structure and function to the bracket 308illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The fasteners and bushing illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8 may also be similar in structure and function to thoseillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The lower lock rod 304 is configured toextend into a hole and/or recess in a frame (or in a bracket secured tothe frame) to which the door 106 is mounted when the door 106 is closedand the lower lock rod 304 is extended into a lower position, so as tosecure the door 106 against the frame in a similar manner as the upperlock rod 302 discussed above. The lower lock rod 304 is alsopositionable into an upper position where it does not extend beyond thelower extremity of the door 106. Positioning the lower lock rod 304 inthis upper position facilitates the opening and closing of the door 106against a frame, such as the frame 104. A detent member 710 is coupledto the lower lock rod 304 by a fastener 712 which allows detent member710 to rotate about the axis of the fastener 712. The detent member 710is coupled to an inside portion of the door 106 by a bracket 714, whichis secured to the door 106 by fasteners 716. In some embodiments, thebracket 714 may be attached to the door 106 by other methods, such as bywelding or by an adhesive such as epoxy. Although a bracket 714including a pair of slots and holes for two fasteners is illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, in alternate embodiments, other brackets or securingmechanisms may be used, such as a bracket with more or fewer holes forfasteners and/or slots or other structures for guiding and/or retainingdetent member 710, for example, pins or guide rods. In some embodimentsbracket 714 may be eliminated entirely.

The detent member 710 is not limited to the shape illustrated. Inalternate embodiments the detent member may be formed from a rod ofmaterial, or may be thinner, thicker, longer, or shorter than the detentmember 710 as illustrated. The detent member may also be coupled to alock rod by other mechanisms, for example, by a cable or a push rod.

It should be noted that the present disclose is not limited to the useof rigid lock rods. In some embodiments a pin or other retaining devicecoupled to one or more cabinet doors may be moved by a cablemechanically coupled to a handle. The cable would push and/or pull thepin or other retaining device into and/or out from a recess or hole inthe cabinet to lock or unlock the cabinet doors. In other embodiments aportion of the upper and/or lower lock rods 302, 304 may be replaced bya cable. In further embodiments, a cable may be used to mechanicallycouple the lock rods 302, 304 to a handle.

In embodiments where the door 108 is mounted to the electronics cabinet102 with a vertical space between an upper edge thereof and an upperportion of a frame of the cabinet, a detent member and associated guidebracket and fasteners similar in form and function to those illustratedin FIGS. 7 and 8 may be attached to the upper lock rod 302. Also, thedescription below of the operation of the detent member 710 and itsinteraction with door 108 and the associated brackets, mounting plates,and other hardware would apply equally well to an embodiment where adetent member is provided on an upper lock rod rather than a lower lockrod.

FIGS. 9-13 illustrate an embodiment of fasteners 912 which may be usedto rotatably attach the upper lock rod 302 and the lower lock rod 304 tothe center lock rod mounting bracket 508. The fasteners 912 may alsorotatably attach the lower lock rod 304 to the detent member 710. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-13, the fasteners 912 may comprisebolt-like members which pass through holes in the upper lock rod 302 andthe center lock rod mounting bracket 508, through holes in the lowerlock rod 304 and the center lock rod mounting bracket 508, and throughholes in the lower lock rod 304 and the detent member 710. The fastenersmay be held in place by cotter pins (not designated) through holes inthe bolt-like members. In other embodiments, alternate fasteners besidesfasteners 912 may be utilized, such as bolts, screws, nuts, locknutsand/or lockwashers, or other appropriate fasteners.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate enlarged views of the bracket 714 of the latchassembly comprising lock rod assembly 110, mounting brackets 308, 708and detent member 710. This bracket 714 includes a pair of mountingholes 718 defined in a generally planar base portion, and a pair ofslots 720 defined in a pair of generally planar side portions. In someembodiments, the side portions and the base portion are formed from asingle piece of material. The side portions are illustrated in FIGS.14-16 as perpendicular to the base portion, but in alternate embodimentsmay be disposed at an angle relative to the base portion. In someembodiments, there may be only a single side portion. In otherembodiments, there may be two or more side portions of different sizesand/or shapes. Also, in some embodiments, slots 720 and/or mountingholes 718 may have different shapes from those illustrated. For example,in some embodiments the slot or slots 720 may be configured as generallycircular holes. This circular shape for the slots 720 would beappropriate for embodiments where the detent member 710 is in the formof a rod with a generally circular cross section. In some embodiments,holes 718 may be elongated or oval shaped. This would allow for morefreedom for positioning the bracket 714 on a surface to which it ismounted. In further embodiments, such as those where the bracket 714 isattached to a door by welding or with an adhesive, the holes 718 may beeliminated.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the operation of the center lock rod mountingbracket 508. FIG. 17 illustrates the center lock rod mounting bracket508 in a generally horizontal position. This position may be attained byrotating a handle, such as the handle 200, to which the center lock rodmounting bracket 508 is coupled. In this position, the upper lock rod302 is drawn downward from its upper vertical position and the lowerlock rod 304 is drawn upward from its lower vertical position. In thisposition, neither of the lock rods 302, 304 would engage any recess orhole in the frame or in any bracket mounted to a frame to which the doorto which they are attached is mounted. Thus, in this position the doorwould be unlocked and could be opened or closed. When the center lockrod mounting bracket 508 is in a generally vertical position, as shownin FIG. 18, the upper lock rod 302 is in an upper vertical position. Theupper lock rod 302 assumes this position when a door to which it isattached is closed and locked. In this position, an upper end of theupper lock rod 302 would extend into a recess of a frame and/or abracket mounted to a frame, such as frame 104, to which a closed door,such as door 106, is mounted. Similarly, FIG. 18 illustrates the lowerlock rod 304 in a lower vertical position. In this position, a lower endof the lower lock rod 304 extends into a recess of a frame and/or abracket mounted to a frame, such as frame 104, to which a closed door,such as door 106, is mounted. When the center lock rod mounting bracket508 transitions between the locked position illustrated in FIG. 18 andthe unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 17, or vice-versa, fasteners512 (which in some embodiments may correspond to fasteners 912) allowthe lock rods 302, 304 to rotate relative to the center lock rodmounting bracket 508 about the axes of fasteners 512.

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate the operation of an embodiment of the detentmember 710. FIG. 19 illustrates the configuration of the lower lock rod304 and detent member 710 when the doors 106 and 108 are in an unlockedposition and the center lock rod mounting bracket 508 is in thehorizontal unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 17. The lower lock rod304 is raised from its lower position. This is accomplished in someembodiments by the rotation of the center lock rod mounting bracket 508,but in some other embodiments, the lower lock rod 304 may be raised fromits lower position by other means, for example by an electricallyactuated solenoid or by the rotation of a gear which rotates in responseto actuation of a handle and to which the lock rod is coupled. In thisposition, the lower lock rod 304 is free from engagement with the doorframe 104 (not shown) to which the doors are mounted, thus placing thedoor 106 in an unlocked state. The door 108 is held close against theframe until the door 106 is opened because the door 106 in its closedposition continues to restrain the flange 1902 attached to the door 108.Due to the position of the lower lock rod 304, the detent member 710 ispulled into an unlocked position free from engagement against a plate1904 secured to an inner surface of the door 108. The plate 1904 issecured to the door 108 proximate an end of the door 108 which does notabut the frame 104 when closed. In other embodiments, when positioned inan unlocked state, the detent member 710 is pulled free from a bracket715 (see FIG. 24), slot, or other engagement mechanism which may bepresent in or attached to the inside portion of the door 108 proximatean end of the door 108 which does not abut the frame 104 when closed.The lower end of the door 108 which does not abut the door frame 104 iscapable of being moved or bent inward toward the frame and the inside ofthe cabinet when in the unlocked state.

FIG. 20 illustrates the configuration of the lower lock rod 304 anddetent member 710 when the doors 106, 108 are in a locked position andcenter lock rod mounting bracket 508 is in the vertical locked positionillustrated in FIG. 18. The lower lock rod 304 is in a lower position,engaging a recess in the frame 104 and/or a bracket secured to the frame104 (not shown) to which the doors are mounted, thus locking the door106 in place. The door 108 is also held closed against the frame becausethe door 106 restrains the flange 1902 attached to door 108, preventingthe door 108 from opening. Due to the position of the lower lock rod304, the detent member 710 is pushed into a locked position against thesurface of the plate 1904 attached to the inner surface of the door 108,thereby preventing the lower end of door 108 (which does not abut thedoor frame) from moving inward toward the frame and the inside of thecabinet. In some embodiments, the detent member 710 frictionally engagesthe plate 1904 when the detent member 710 is extended, as illustrated inFIG. 20. In other embodiments, a space exists between the detent member710 and the plate 1904 when the detent member 710 is extended. In someembodiments plate 1904 may be omitted. In other embodiments, a bracket715 (see FIG. 24) may be mounted on the inside surface of door 108 toreceive and/or retain the detent member 710 when in an extended state.In other embodiments, a slot may be formed in door 108 to receive and/orretain the detent member 710 when in an extended state.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate another embodiment of a detent member 2110.In this embodiment, the detent member 2110 includes a first portion,which is secured by fasteners 2112 to a lower lock rod 2104, which inturn is coupled to a door 2106. The detent member 2110 has a secondportion attached to the first portion and disposed roughly perpendicularto the first portion. In some embodiments, the first and the secondportion are formed from a single piece of material. The second portionincludes a protrusion 2120 on a lower surface thereof. In use, when thedoor 2106 and complimentary door 2116 are closed, the door 2116 is heldagainst a door frame (not shown) by the door 2106 trapping a flange 2120attached to the door 2116. As shown, a lower portion of the door 2116 isspaced from a lower portion of the door frame. When the lower lock rod2104 is lowered, by rotation of a handle to which it is coupled, theprotrusion 2120 of the detent member 2110 enters a hole 2122 defined ina bracket 2118, which is attached to the inner surface of door 2116, asshown in FIG. 21. Hole 2122 may in other embodiments be replaced by arecess in the bracket 2118. The insertion of protrusion 2120 into hole2122 prevents movement of the lower portion of door 2116 inward oroutward from an electronics cabinet (not shown) to which it is mounted.The lower portion of door 2116 is also prevented from moving outward dueto flange 2120 and bracket 2118 being in contact with an inner edge ofdoor 2106. In other embodiments, a space may be present between bracket2118 and door 2106. When the lower lock rod is raised as in FIG. 22, theprotrusion 2120 no longer engages the bracket 2118 and the lower portionof the door 2116 is no longer prevented by the detent member 2110 frombeing forced inward into the electronics cabinet. In alternateembodiments the detent member 2110 may have a size and/or shapedifferent from that illustrated. For example, in some embodiments thefirst and the second portions of the detent member 2110 are disposed atan angle relative to one another, rather than roughly perpendicular toone another as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22.

It should also be noted that in some embodiments the lock rods may movefrom a lower position in which they are substantially verticallyoriented to an upper position in which they are oriented at an angle, asis illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. In other embodiments the lock rodsare substantially vertically oriented in both an upper and a lowerposition, as is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22.

In some embodiments an actuator, such as an electrical solenoid, mayinstalled and coupled to the latch assembly to facilitate actuation ofthe latch assembly from outside the cabinet. The actuator may beenergized in response to an output from a card key, a fingerprintsensor, a numerical keypad, or other input device located on the outsideof the cabinet. The input device may also be located remote from thecabinet and communicate with the actuator through a communicationsnetwork. In some embodiments, the handle may be lockable and unlockablewith a key. In other embodiments, the handle may be electricallylockable and/or unlockable by an actuator such as an electricalsolenoid, which may be activated in a similar manner as the latchassembly actuator.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a retrofit kitconfigured to provide the components used to replace a “long” door of anelectronics cabinet with a “short” door. This retrofit kit may beutilized to modify and/or replace one or more doors of an electronicscabinet, which do not provide for a vertical and/or horizontal spacebetween the one or more doors and a frame of the cabinet. The retrofitkit may include one or more doors with a height and/or a width less thanthat of the frame of the electronics cabinet to which it or they are tobe attached. The retrofit kit may also include a latch assembly. Thelatch assembly may include a lock rod assembly, such as lock rodassembly 110. The lock rod assembly may have one or more lock rods, suchas the upper and lower lock rods 302 and 304. In some embodiments, thelock rods may be constructed and arranged to be substantiallyhorizontally mounted within the cabinet, and in other embodiments,substantially vertically oriented. The latch assembly may include acenter lock rod mounting bracket, such as the center lock rod mountingbracket 508 and fasteners which may be utilized to couple the one ormore lock rods to the center lock rod mounting bracket. The latchassembly may also include a detent member, such as detent member 710and/or 2110, as well as the associated hardware, which may be utilizedto attach the latch assembly to the one or more doors. This hardware mayinclude brackets, such as the brackets 308, and/or 708, and/or 714,and/or 2118, as well as bushings, such as the bushing 312, andfasteners, such as the fasteners 310, and/or 510, and/or 512, and/or712, and/or 716, and/or 912, and/or 2112. The retrofit kit may alsoinclude a handle, such as the handle 200. In addition, the retrofit kitmay include instructions for installing the retrofit kit.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided amethod for replacing one or more doors of an electronics cabinet. Someembodiments of this method include utilization of a retrofit kit asdescribed above. Embodiments of the method will be described withreference to FIG. 23. In step 2302 of FIG. 23, the existing doors of anelectronics cabinet are removed. If the cabinet does not have previouslyinstalled doors, this step may be skipped. In some embodiments, anexisting door with a height approximately co-extensive with a height ofa frame (a “long” door) of the cabinet is removed.

In step 2304, a door with a height less than the height of the frame (a“short” door) of the cabinet is installed. In some embodiments,installation of the short door may include attaching the short door to aframe of the cabinet or to walls of the cabinet with hinges. This stepmay include drilling holes for the attachment of hinges in the cabinetor a frame of the cabinet or may involve welding the hinges to thecabinet or welding or otherwise attaching plates or a frame comprisinghinge attachment surfaces to the cabinet. In different embodiments, theshort door may be installed such that a vertical space is left betweenthe bottom of the short door and the bottom of the frame of the cabinet,between the top of the short door and the top of the frame of thecabinet, or both. The short door may be similar to the door 108described above. In one embodiment, a plate such as plate 1904 may beattached to an inner surface of the short door before or afterinstallation. In another embodiment, a bracket for receiving a detentmember, such as the bracket 2118 described above, may be attached to aninner surface of the short door before or after installation. In afurther embodiment, the short door has neither a plate nor a bracketattached to its inner surface. In some embodiments, the short door mayinclude a slot for receiving a detent member. The short door may in someembodiments be provided along with other parts as part of a retrofitkit, or in other embodiments may be constructed by modifying a doorpreviously installed on the cabinet by, for example, shortening thepre-existing door by cutting a portion of the door away and/or byattaching a bracket or plate to the door, and/or by cutting a slot inthe door.

In step 2306, a latch assembly is installed on a long door. The longdoor in some embodiments has a height substantially co-extensive with aheight of the cabinet or a height of the frame of the cabinet. The longdoor may in some embodiments be a door that was previously installed onthe cabinet. In other embodiments the long door may be supplied alongwith other parts as part of a retrofit kit. The latch assembly mayinclude a lock rod assembly, such as lock rod assembly 110. The lock rodassembly may have one or more lock rods, such as upper and lower lockrods 302 and 304. The latch assembly may include a center lock rodmounting bracket, such as the center lock rod mounting bracket 508 andfasteners which may be utilized to couple the one or more lock rods tothe center lock rod mounting bracket. The latch assembly may alsoinclude a detent member, such as the detent member 710 and/or 2110, aswell as hardware, which may be utilized to attach the latch assembly tothe door. This hardware may include brackets, such as the brackets 308,and/or 708, and/or 714, and/or 2118, as well as bushings, such as thebushing 312, and fasteners, such as the fasteners 310, and/or 510,and/or 512, and/or 712, and/or 716, and/or 912, and/or 2112. If asuitable latch assembly including upper and lower lock rods is presenton a long door that was previously installed on the cabinet, that longdoor and latch assembly may be re-used but modified to include a detentmember, a detent member guide, for example, a bracket, and appropriatefasteners. A handle, such as handle 200, may also be installed on anoutside surface of the long door and coupled to the latch assembly tofacilitate actuation of the latch assembly from outside the cabinet. Insome embodiments an actuator, such as an electrical solenoid, mayinstalled and coupled to the latch assembly to facilitate actuation ofthe latch assembly from outside the cabinet. The actuator may beenergized in response to an output from a card key, a fingerprintsensor, a numerical keypad or other input device located on the outsideof the cabinet. The input device may also be located remote from thecabinet and communicate with the actuator through a communicationsnetwork. In some embodiments, the handle may be locked and unlocked witha key. In other embodiments, the handle may be electrically lockedand/or unlocked by an actuator, such as an electrical solenoid.

In step 2308, the long door is installed on the cabinet. In someembodiments, installation of the long door may include attaching thelong door to a frame of the cabinet or to walls of the cabinet withhinges. In some embodiments, installation of the long door may includeforming hole(s) and/or recess(es) in a portion or portions of thecabinet frame and/or cabinet walls(s) to accommodate portions of the oneor more lock rods included in the latch assembly to facilitate lockingof the cabinet doors. In some embodiments, these recesses and/or holesmay be formed in brackets that may be attached to portions of the frameand/or cabinet walls.

The order of steps in the method of FIG. 23 is not meant to be limiting.In other embodiments, these steps may be performed in alternate orders.In some embodiments additional steps may be included in the method. Inother embodiments one or more of the steps described may be eliminatedor substituted.

Other embodiments of this method, with appropriate modifications, wouldapply to replacing one or more doors of electronics cabinets having onlya single door or to cabinets having a door or doors, which open andclose by rotating about a horizontal axis.

Various embodiments and methods described herein address the designchallenge of replacing a standard length door with a short door whilebeing able to adequately secure a side (or sides) of the short door to aframe of the equipment rack. The installation of a short door on anelectronics cabinet provides a space through which electrical cables maybe routed. The provision of a detent member as described abovefacilitates prevention of movement of an end of a short door which doesnot abut a frame of the cabinet. In some embodiments, the detent memberfacilitates preventing or limiting the extent to which an end of theshort door may be pushed or bent inward into the inside of the cabinet.In other embodiments, the detent member facilitates preventing orlimiting the extent to which an end of the short door may be pushed orbent inward or outward from the cabinet. In some embodiments, a detentmember may limit the potential for deformation of a short door, thusboth limiting the potential for damage and the cost for replacing orrepairing the door. The detent member may also enhance the security ofthe cabinet by facilitating securing a door in place thus limitingaccess to electronic components within the cabinet.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisdisclosure, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

1. A rack enclosure comprising: a frame configured to define an interiorsuitable for supporting electronic equipment, the frame having at leastone opening to allow access into the interior; a first door and a seconddoor, the first and second doors being individually movable between anopen position to allow access to the interior through the at least oneopening and a closed position to block access to the interior, thesecond door having a height substantially coextensive with a height ofthe frame and the first door having a height less than the height of theframe, wherein a space is defined between at least a portion of thefirst door and the frame when the first door is closed; a latch assemblysecured to the second door, the latch assembly including a handlecoupled to the second door and a shaft portion of a lock rod coupled tothe handle; a detent member disposed on the shaft portion of the lockrod, the detent member being movable from a first position to a secondposition upon actuation of the handle; and a bracket secured to aninside surface of the first door proximate to the portion of the firstdoor defining the space between the first door and the frame when thefirst door is closed, the bracket having an opening formed thereinconfigured to receive the detent member when the detent member is movedby the handle to its second position when the first and second doors arein their closed positions.
 2. The rack enclosure of claim 1, wherein theshaft portion is vertically movable.
 3. The rack enclosure of claim 1,wherein the first door comprises a flange configured to overlap an edgeof the second door when the first and second doors are in their closedpositions.
 4. The rack enclosure of claim 1, wherein the detent memberis received by the bracket upon a vertical movement of the detentmember.
 5. The rack enclosure of claim 4, wherein the detent memberfurther comprises a protrusion which engages the bracket secured to theinside surface of the first door upon actuation of the handle.
 6. Therack enclosure of claim 1, wherein the detent member is received by thebracket upon a movement of the detent member from a retracted to anextended position.
 7. The rack enclosure of claim 1, wherein the latchassembly prevents movement of an edge of the first door inwardly towardthe interior of the rack enclosure from a position of the edge of thefirst door when the first door is in its closed position.
 8. A rackenclosure comprising: a frame configured to define an interior suitablefor supporting electronic equipment, the frame having at least oneopening to allow access into the interior; a first door and a seconddoor, the first door being hingedly secured to the frame on one side ofthe at least one opening and the second door being hingedly secured tothe frame on an other side of the at least one opening, the first andsecond doors being individually movable between an open position toallow access to the interior and a closed position to block access tothe interior, the second door having a height substantially coextensivewith a height of the frame and the first door having a height less thanthe height of the frame, wherein a space is defined between at least aportion of the first door and the frame when the first door is closed; alatch assembly secured to the second door, the latch assembly includinga handle coupled to the second door and a shaft portion of a lock rodcoupled to the handle; a detent member disposed on the shaft portion ofthe lock rod, the detent member being movable from a retracted positionto an extended position proximate an inside surface of the first doorwhen the doors are in their closed positions and the handle is actuated;and a bracket secured to an inside surface of the second door proximateto the portion of the first door defining the space between the firstdoor and the frame when the first door is closed, the bracket configuredto retain the detent member.
 9. The rack enclosure of claim 8, furthercomprising a plate coupled to the inside surface of the first door, theplate positioned to be between the detent member and the inside surfaceof the first door when the detent member is extended.
 10. A retrofit kitfor a rack enclosure of the type comprising a frame configured to definean interior suitable for supporting electronic equipment, the framehaving at least one opening to allow access into the interior, a firstdoor, a second door, the first door being hingedly secured to the frameon one side of the at least one opening and the second door beinghingedly secured to the frame on an other side of the at least oneopening, the first and second doors being individually movable betweenan open position to allow access to the interior and a closed positionto block access to the interior, the first door having a height lessthan a height of the second door, and a latch assembly secured to thesecond door, the latch assembly including a handle rotatably coupled tothe second door between an open position and a locked position, a shaftportion of a first lock rod coupled to the handle, and a shaft portionof a second lock rod coupled to the handle, the first and second lockrods being configured to engage the frame when the first and seconddoors are in their closed positions and the handle is rotated to itslocked position, the first door including a flange configured to overlapan edge of the second door when the first and second doors are in theirclosed positions, the retrofit kit comprising: a detent memberconstructed and arranged to be affixed to one of the shaft portion ofthe first lock rod and the shaft portion of the second lock rod and tobe movable from a retracted position to an extended position whenrotating the handle from its open position to its locked position; and abracket constructed and arranged to be secured to the first door, thebracket having an opening formed therein arranged to receive the detentmember when the detent member is moved by the handle to its extendedposition when the first and second doors are in their closed positions.11. A rack enclosure comprising: a frame configured to define aninterior suitable for supporting electronic equipment, the frame havingat least one opening to allow access into the interior; a first door anda second door, the first and second doors being individually movablebetween an open position to allow access to the interior through the atleast one opening and a closed position to block access to the interior,the second door having a height substantially coextensive with a heightof the frame and the first door having a height less than the height ofthe frame, wherein a space is defined between at least a portion of thefirst door and the frame when the first door is closed; a latch assemblysecured to the second door, the latch assembly including a handlecoupled to the second door and a shaft portion of a lock rod coupled tothe handle; a detent member disposed on the shaft portion of the lockrod, the detent member being movable from a first position to a secondposition upon actuation of the handle; and a slot formed in the firstdoor proximate to the portion of the first door defining the spacebetween the first door and the frame when the first door is closed, theslot configured to receive the detent member when the detent member ismoved by the handle to its second position when the first and seconddoors are in their closed positions.
 12. The rack enclosure of claim 11,wherein the detent member is received by the slot upon a movement of thedetent member from a retracted to an extended position.